Proverbs 27:21 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

As the fining-pot for silver Is appointed and used for the trial of silver, and the detection and separation of the dross from it; so is a man to his praise Or, according to his praise: that is, he is known by his praises; either, 1st, By the quality of those who praise and applaud him; and, as they are good or bad, so is he thought to be: or, rather, 2d, By his behaviour under praises, according as he conducts himself either humbly and modestly, with thankfulness to God, and a due sense of his own infirmities, which is the case and temper of a good man; or ambitiously and vain-gloriously, taking to himself the honour which he should give to God, as ungodly men generally do in such a case. Thus Bishop Patrick: “A man is discovered what he is, by trying how he can bear praises, commendations, and great applauses; which will presently show either the virtue or the vanity of his mind.” In this sense the LXX. seem to have understood the clause, reading ανηρ δοκιμαζεται δια στοματος εγκωμιαζον των αυτον, a man is tried by the mouth of those who praise him.